NL DIVISION SERIES: BREWERS VS BRAVES

October 9, 2021

Omar Narváez

American Family Field

Milwaukee Brewers

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. You just heard me ask him about that play, going to second base instead of third in the ninth inning. What was your thinking there?

OMAR NARVÁEZ: Well, I got on my head was anything close to me I was going to go to second, try to get a double play. And I gotta give credit to Duvall. As soon as he hit the ball, he flew to first. So in my head, right before the play happened, it was kind of on my mind.

But if I see the replay, I see Freeman, in the middle of -- between second and third. If I go to third, probably I blew it. So I did whatever was on my mind and just go to second, try to get a double play.

Q. I remember when you first got traded here, we all asked you about your defense and your defense and your defense. So now to go to the first game of the playoffs and here your manager credits you for defensive plays and for helping Corbin through a tough first inning. Do you take a lot of pride in that progress and what it means to the team?

OMAR NARVÁEZ: Yeah, I mean, I do a lot because it's been a lot of work. And since I got to this team, a lot of work with Charlie Greene. It's been almost every day trying to improve something.

So, as far as I take credit for Counsell, I also take credit for working with Charlie Greene to be as good right here.

Q. Rowdy, to his credit, made sure you got the credit for that play at the plate. He said: I made a terrible throw; I bounced it to him. How hard is it to short hop the ball with a catcher's mitt?

OMAR NARVÁEZ: Honestly, I didn't know. On my mind I was trying to catch the ball and use that momentum to make the tag. In my mind, trying to just try to catch the ball first and try to slow everything down after I catch the ball.

Q. How much do you think that helped Corbin relax? Because looked like he was a little amped up.

OMAR NARVÁEZ: I mean, it was huge. He also helped me to relax, too. First and third, no outs and then it was already a stressful inning just because it was my first, obviously, postseason. And after we got the play, I chilled out and be able to make better calls while I was calling the game.

Q. You talked about Charlie Greene. What did he do, how did he help you out, make you the defensive catcher you are now?

OMAR NARVÁEZ: I think the biggest thing we worked on was confidence and one thing at a time. They didn't tell me all the information right away. It was one information at a time. And worked on my weaknesses and also worked on my stronger side of catching-wise.

It was huge as soon as he got here. Because they never told me that it was bad, we just need to work. And all three, we put the work on, and here I am.

Q. With someone like Adrian coming out of the bullpen last night, what do you make of how you have been working with the pitching staff and their willingness to do any different role in the postseason and the quality of all the arms you have available for this the series and the rest of the postseason?

OMAR NARVÁEZ: For me, I was trying to call the same game I called with him. Housie is a sinkerball guy. And out of the bullpen everybody knows he was going to be gas. So just trying to execute it every single pitch and maybe not to call the game as he's starting because we probably used more breaking balls. But out of the pen we just came to attack people.

Q. Is there a willingness of all the pitching staff to take on different roles and as you're working with them?

OMAR NARVÁEZ: Absolutely. I think everybody -- I feel like postseason for the boys. Postseason is for the team. And whatever we can do to help the team to win. It's not like the regular season, we play for the team but also make numbers. And I feel like postseason is play for the boys. Whatever we can do to win, we're going to do it.

Q. How much will you be talking with Manny during the game today? I know you guys work together so closely daily. But when he's starting and calling the game, how much are you communicating with him even in between an inning?

OMAR NARVÁEZ: We communicate right before the game, because during the game, sometimes it's hard because I'm not back there feeling what he's feeling. Like I can't tell him before the game how he pitched and what it felt like. And then everything else is on him.

And if he's got a question, I'm always open to answer his question. The same thing when I'm catching. Every time I feel stuck, I go right at him and ask him. Sometimes it's -- I've also got to work it. But three minds is better than one. So it's better hopefully working on -- maybe that's why we've been so successful.